School Q&A

Published: October 1, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Emily Brierley of Cambridge Judge

Welcome to another special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast as we continue our popular Admissions Director Q&A series with Emily Brierley, Head of Cambridge MBA Recruitment and Admissions at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School. Emily Brierley, Head of Cambridge MBA Recruitment and Admissions Emily has been with Cambridge Judge since 2016 and became a core part of the MBA Recruitment and Admissions team by 2018. She started out in operations and candidate management before taking on her current leadership role in August 2021. You might recognize her from Read more

Published: September 24, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: David Simpson of LBS

David Simpson, Recruitment & Admissions Director, MBA and MiF at LBS In his 25+ years at London Business School (LBS), David Simpson, Recruitment and Admissions Director for the MBA and Masters in Finance, has worked across a range of roles in admissions, marketing, and business development. Recently, he sat down for a special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, hosted by Graham Richmond, to share his journey, insights, and tips for prospective students as part of our Admissions Director Q&A series. This in-depth conversation offers listeners a rare peek Read more

Published: September 9, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Coni Zingarelli of Rice Business

In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Coni Zingarelli, the executive director of recruiting, admissions and student financial services at Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University (Rice Business). Previously, Coni served in roles with Temple University’s Fox School of Business and University of California Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business. She is passionate about helping students find the right graduate program to further their personal and professional aspirations. Coni spent the first 12 years of her career in the hospitality industry working in Read more

Published: September 4, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Rodrigo Malta of Texas McCombs

Get ready for a deep dive into MBA admissions at the Texas McCombs School of Business with Rodrigo Malta, Managing Director of MBA Marketing, Recruiting & Admissions, in this installment of our MBA Admissions Director Q&A series. Rodrigo is originally from Brazil and immigrated to the United States during high school. He earned his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business in 2007, and his bachelor’s degree in management from Missouri State University in 2000. Before and after his MBA, Rodrigo worked for Fortune 100 Read more

Published: September 2, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Bailey McChesney of Vanderbilt Owen

In this Admissions Director Q&A, we welcome back Bailey McChesney, Director of MBA Admissions at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Bailey has been with the Vanderbilt MBA Recruiting & Admissions Team for over a decade and currently manages the application evaluation process. In her time at Vanderbilt, she has managed a variety of initiatives and worked with hundreds of applicants to help them understand the application process. Check out our conversation below for her advice on writing your essay, preparing for your interview, and more on what to expect from the MBA Read more

Published: August 28, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Paola Eicher of IMD

For this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A, we visit Lausanne, Switzerland, to meet Paola Eicher, Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions at IMD Business School. Paola holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in International Hospitality Management from Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. She has over a decade of experience in higher education, focusing on student recruitment and admissions. Before her current role, she was Head of Admissions and Recruitment at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Read on for her insights into the IMD MBA Read more

Published: August 26, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Eddie Asbie of Cornell University’s S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management

In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Eddie Asbie, Executive Director of Admissions and Scholarship at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Eddie is responsible for overseeing admissions and recruitment for the residential Two-Year MBA program. He has spent 20 years in higher education, primarily within admissions, and has been at Cornell for 12 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University at Buffalo and a master’s in student personnel administration from SUNY Buffalo State College. Read more

Published: August 21, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Steve Togneri of Imperial College Business School

In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, let us introduce Steve Togneri, Director of Admissions at the Imperial College Business School in London, England. Steve is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in higher education admissions. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies from the University of Portsmouth. Following his undergraduate studies, Steve embarked on a career in community health promotion, gaining valuable experience in public engagement and community outreach. For the past 17 years, Steve has been a dedicated member of the admissions team at Read more

Published: August 19, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Steve Thompson of Northwestern Kellogg

We welcome back Steve Thompson, Senior Director of Admissions at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, in this Admissions Director Q&A. As the leader of Full-Time admissions, Steve is focused on attracting the best and brightest candidates to Kellogg’s portfolio of Full-Time MBA programs. Steve has played a critical leadership role at Kellogg since January 2018, when he first joined the team as director of the Executive MBA Program. Prior to Kellogg, Steve worked at IE Business School as the Executive Director of the International MBA Program. Keep Read more

Published: August 14, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Mikale Elliott of WashU Olin

We’re back to Washington University’s Olin Business School with Associate Director of Recruiting Mikale Elliott in this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Mikale spent her undergraduate career at the University of Missouri–Columbia studying business communication and gaining experience recruiting underrepresented minorities. After graduating, she took a non-traditional pathway working as a flight attendant for a few years. Eventually, she returned to higher education to work on an HIV prevention research project. Through all these pivots, the thing that brought her back to admissions was her passion for others from diverse backgrounds to Read more

Published: August 13, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Alex Lawrence of UCLA Anderson

Alex Lawrence, Assistant Dean and Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid, UCLA Anderson Surf’s up! From surfing to skiing, UCLA’s Anderson School of Management provides city living and outdoor adventure along with a leading business education. Riding the wave of admissions insights from the GMAC Conference this summer, Assistant Dean and Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid Alex Lawrence brings 20 years of experience at UCLA Anderson to this special edition Read more

Published: August 12, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Sara Vanos of HEC Paris

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A, we hear from Sara Vanos, Executive Director of Marketing & Admissions for MBA Programs at HEC Paris. Sara’s role covers the full-time MBA, the Executive MBA and the TRIUM Global MBA. She has over 20 years’ experience in higher education and has worked in roles across alumni relations, careers and marketing in business schools in France and Canada. Her teams are responsible for communications, marketing and admissions for the MBA programs – with the goal of attracting leaders Read more

Published: August 8, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Alex Lawrence of UCLA Anderson School of Management

Join us in welcoming back Alex Lawrence, Assistant Dean and Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA in this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Since joining UCLA Anderson in 2004, Alex has been pivotal in shaping the future of the full-time MBA program. His tenure as the assistant dean and director of MBA admissions and financial aid began in August 2012, and he has been instrumental in attracting and enrolling top talent. With a rich background in Read more

Published: August 8, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Dawna Levenson of MIT Sloan

Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean of Admissions, MIT Sloan School of Management With 17 years of admissions experience at the MIT Sloan School of Management, it’s safe to consider Dawna Levenson an absolute veteran of the scene. We were lucky to sit down with her at the GMAC Conference this summer, getting her expert take on the current state of MBA admissions and career trends. In this special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, Dawna talks about: The reality of AI in admissions How to handle the video component of the MIT Sloan application Read more

Published: August 7, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Katy Radoll of UNC Kenan-Flagler

In this Admissions Director Q&A, we meet Katy Radoll, the new Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. With roots in the Pacific Northwest, Katy is thrilled to have joined the UNC Kenan-Flagler team as the Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program in the summer of 2024. Prior to UNC Kenan-Flagler, she led Associate Recruiting at McKinsey in Atlanta and, before that, held several different roles at MIT Sloan. At MIT Sloan, Katy was part of the team that Read more

Published: August 6, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Brent Nagamine of Washington Foster

Brent Nagamine, Director of Admissions, Washington Foster Representing the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, Director of Admissions Brent Nagamine joins the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast live from the GMAC Conference this summer. In this special episode, Brent talks about: The democratizing force of AI in admissions The importance of being authentic in the application process What the adcom looks for in the video component of the Foster MBA application …and more, particularly regarding career trends and industry connections to the school’s base city of Seattle. Click Read more

Published: August 5, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Chris Healy of Manchester AMBS

Let’s welcome back Chris Healy, the Head of MBA Marketing & Recruitment at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) for this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A. Chris has 15 years of experience in graduate management education. He’s implemented and developed marketing and recruitment strategies both domestically and internationally, to meet the academic and commercial objectives of the school. During this time, he’s gained experience and insight in the UK, Western Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, North America, Africa, and Asian markets. He works with individual candidates as well as global corporates looking Read more

Published: August 1, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Laurel Grodman of Yale SoM

Laurel Grodman, Assistant Dean for Admissions, Yale SoM If you’re planning to apply to the Yale School of Management for your MBA, tune into this special edition of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast for what to expect from the application process and more. Wire Taps host Graham Richmond sat down with Laurel Grodman, Assistant Dean for Admissions, to dig into some key topics, including: the guidance and support regarding using AI in the application process what to expect from the video component of the Yale MBA application, which is the next step once Read more

Published: August 1, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Isabelle Perna of ESCP Business School

While ESCP Business School is comprised of six campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw, this Admissions Director Q&A takes us to Paris to meet Isabelle Perna, the Global & Paris Head of Admissions & Recruitment for the MBA in International Management. Isabelle Perna has over 35 years of experience in the world of recruitment, with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Read on to learn her favorite aspects of the ESCP MBA program and how important it is to be your authentic self on your application. Isabelle Read more

Published: July 31, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Cara Sonnier of Georgia Terry

We welcome back Cara Sonnier, Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA and M.S. Business Analytics programs at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business for the next installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Since joining the Full-Time MBA program in 2012, Cara has been instrumental in shaping the admissions process, making it more accessible and streamlined for prospective students. With a passion for graduate management education, Cara believes deeply in the transformative power and significant return on investment that the Terry College programs provide. Under her leadership, the admissions Read more

Published: July 30, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Eddie Asbie of Cornell Johnson

Executive Director of Admissions and Scholarship at the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management, Eddie Asbie, sat down with Clear Admit Co-Founder Graham Richmond at the GMAC Conference this summer for a chat about MBA admissions. Eddie Asbie, Executive Director of Admissions & Scholarship Eddie covers a lot of ground in the special Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast episode below. To start, he digs into the Cornell Johnson MBA application “fill in the blank” career goals prompt. Eddie also talks about trends in the applicant pool, particularly regarding careers, as well as how Read more

Published: July 29, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Jennifer Zhao of CEIBS

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A we meet Jennifer Zhao, Deputy Director of MBA Marketing and Admissions at CEIBS, who joins us to talk about MBA admissions. Jennifer joined CEIBS in 2006. As Deputy Director, she has full responsibility for marketing, admissions and scholarships in the MBA. Jennifer’s career at CEIBS has also included years of service in the Career Development Center, providing general support and coordination to the team. Prior to CEIBS, she worked in Human Resources in various industries and locations and has extensive experience in talent Read more

Published: July 25, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Shari Hubert of Duke Fuqua

If you’re applying to Duke Fuqua for your MBA, this is a must-listen special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast. Shari Hubert, the Associate Dean of Admissions, reviews the history of their “25 Random Things” essay and offers insider advice on what the admissions team is looking for in response to the creative prompt. Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions, Duke Fuqua Hubert oversees recruitment and admissions for Duke University’s portfolio of ten business degree programs. Prior to Fuqua, she was in charge of admissions for the Full-time and Read more

Published: July 25, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Justin Aier of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management

We are back in Boston again for this Admissions Director Q&A as we sit down with Justin Aier, Assistant Dean of Graduate Recruitment & Enrollment at the Boston College Carroll School of Management Justin has been a part of the Boston College Carroll School Graduate Admissions team for over six years, and has taken on roles from marketing and communications to recruitment and enrollment management. His favorite aspect of the admissions process is working directly with applicants to explore how the BC MBA can help them achieve their academic and professional goals. Read on for Justin’s Read more

Published: July 24, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth

In this Admissions Director Q&A, we welcome back Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions for MBA Programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Donna is a longtime Chicago resident and has been at Booth since 1997. She joined the Office of Admissions in 2005 and has seen the admissions process at Booth from pretty much every angle over the course of her tenure by serving in several roles, including head of Operations and Evaluation before transitioning to her current position as Associate Dean for Student Recruitment Read more

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MBA Applywire

November 16, 2024 5:16pm ET

Applying: ESADE, IE Business School, IESE

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Tech

Post-MBA Target Industry: Technology, Pharmaceutical Companies: Apple , Facebook , Google , Microsoft , Oracle , Johnson & Johnson , Novartis , Pfizer , Roche

GMAT: 525

GPA: 2.79

Years of Work Experience: 4

Post MBA Location: Europe

Notes:

Asian, female, USA. Top 10 Undergraduate school in USA, majored in Biomedical Engineering. Worked for Salesforce, Accenture, and Microsoft within sales department. Major accomplishments within sales roles. Strong personal essays. Letters of Recommendations from direct managers. Founder and held multiple leadership positions in school clubs during Undergrad. Just a really bad test taker and cannot seem to get my scores up no matter how many times I take it specifically in the quant section. American trying to stay in Europe post MBA and only applying to European B-schools.

November 15, 2024 9:32am ET

Applying: Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Michigan / Ross, Minnesota / Carlson, UVA / Darden, Yale SOM

Pre-MBA Career: Insurance

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey , Other

GMAT: 505

GPA: 3.44

Years of Work Experience: 3

Post MBA Location: Midwest, Northeast

Notes:

GMAT Note:
* The score is an unofficial practice test. I am beginning my studies for the real thing now.

Undergrad Majors:
* Economics
* Business Management

Work Experience Notes:
* Insurance experience is at a family business
* I implemented data analytics into business operations since that was not a practice beforehand.
* I help with sales, customer service, bookkeeping, and marketing.

Extracurriculars & Volunteer Activities:
* Worked as an economics research assistant during my undergrad where I consulted public and private entities
* Was part of an economics research project that won a national award for its work in community economic development
* Published 2 university-sponsored economics articles
* During my senior year, I was appointed to a university faculty committee to help plan university award ceremonies and delegate student scholarships
* Won a leadership award from my university
* Economics honor society member
* President of a student club (1 year) and a club's Senior Advisor (1 year)
* Started and led 2 initiatives that installed free smoke alarms in rural area homes (received a leadership award from the American Red Cross for this)
* Ironman triathlete

November 14, 2024 8:16pm ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Cambridge / Judge, Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, emlyon, IESE, Imperial, INSEAD, London Business School, Manchester / AMBS, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, UPenn / Wharton

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Hospitality

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology, Consumer Goods, Other Companies: Amazon , Apple , Google , Coca Cola , LVMH , Nestle , Nike

GRE: 326

GPA: 3.46

Years of Work Experience: 6

Post MBA Location: Consultancy

November 14, 2024 6:29am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Georgetown / McDonough, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Consulting, Capital Project Development (Renewable Energy/CCS)

Post-MBA Target Industry: Investment Banking, Venture Capital, Private Equity, Commercial Banking, Family Business, Entrepreneurship

GMAT: 664

GPA: 2.9

Years of Work Experience: 7

Notes:

Pakistani male, looking to get into the financial services industry short term, and long-term make a significant contribution to the family business or pursue entrepreneurship. Studied engineering from UT Austin for undergrad followed by three jobs (roughly 2 years each) and a nine month break in between job 2 and 3. Planning to take the GMAT again in 3 weeks to offset GPA. Goal score is 695. Mitigating circumstances around GPA are just illness and general family/self issues but doubt they will be very convincing.

November 13, 2024 11:52am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Columbia, Dartmouth / Tuck, Georgetown / McDonough, Michigan / Ross, UNC Kenan-Flagler, USC / Marshall

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Real Estate Development Analyst and Acquisitions Project Manager

Post-MBA Target Industry: Private Equity, Family Business, Entrepreneurship Companies: Other

GPA: 3.44

Years of Work Experience: 3

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MBA LiveWire

November 17, 2024 10:14am ET

Interview Invite to Stanford GSB

Round: Round 1

Received via email on November 14, 2024

GPA: 3.52

GRE: 322

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Technology

Note:

Consortium applicant applied round 1

November 17, 2024 12:58am ET

Rejected at Columbia

Round: Round 1

Received via portal on November 14, 2024

GPA: 3.49

GMAT: 740

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: India

November 17, 2024 12:46am ET

Interview Invite to Duke / Fuqua

Round: Round 1

Received via email on November 12, 2024

GPA: 3.49

GMAT: 740

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: India

November 16, 2024 12:19pm ET

Interview Invite to Northwestern / Kellogg

Round: Round 1

Received via email

GRE: 320

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Application Location: India

November 16, 2024 10:45am ET

Accepted to Boston College / Carroll

Round: Round 1

Received via phone on November 12, 2024

GPA: 3.91

GRE: 318

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: Texaa

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